Newport, RI Service Inductees, Dec 17, 1943

Seventeen of the 32 men called for induction Thursday by Board 2, Newport County towns, are pre-Pearl Harbor fathers. The group, with William S. Grinnell of Highland road, Tiverton, as leader, left by special bus for the physical examinations at the Providence induction center.

Newport furnished three men of the present quota, the second for that board this month. Tiverton furnished nine, Portsmouth seven, Little Compton six, Middletown four, Fall River two, and Providence one.

These men were named, those with F after their names being fathers, and the first three on the list being volunteers:

Fifty per cent of pre Pearl Harbor fathers, sent by Board 1, this city, to the Providence induction center last Friday, failed to pass final physical examinations for entrance into the armed services. Of the entire quota of 63 men leaving here, 35 were accepted, 21 for the navy, 12 for the army, and two for the Marine Corps.

The latest Newport contingent contained 40 fathers, but only 20, just half, were found physically fit, 16 being put into the navy and four into the army. Among those rejected was Charles F. Kent of Washington street, father of nine children.

John J. Murphy, Easton's Beach superintendent, who was leader of the group, was accepted for army duty. He is the father of three children. He will head the local contingent when it leaves here January 3 for the reception center at Fort Devens, Mass. Francis Mortimer Clifford, a father, who was named assistant leader, was inducted into the navy. He will leave here in a week's time.

Four of the 12 men accepted for army duty were aviation cadets. They have been placed under the jurisdiction of Fort Adams.